Oslo , Norway -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The man accused of killing 77 people in a bomb-and-gun rampage in Norway last summer said his actions were justified to save the country from multicultural forces as he went on trial Monday .

Anders Behring Breivik raised his arm in a fascist-style salute -- a symbol of `` strength , power and defiance against Marxist tyrants , '' to quote the 1,500-page manifesto attributed to him -- as soon as his handcuffs were removed in court Monday .

`` I acknowledge the acts but do not plead guilty , '' he told the court .

His trial on charges of voluntary homicide and committing acts of terror is expected to last up to 10 weeks . He is accused of setting off a bomb in central Oslo that killed eight people , then fatally shooting 69 people at a youth camp run by the ruling Labour Party on nearby Utoya Island .

Dressed in a black suit and sporting a jawline beard , Breivik listened impassively as prosecutor Inga Bejer Engh read the charges , describing how dozens of young people were shot to death .

Breivik says his rampage was meant to save Norway from being taken over by multicultural forces and to prevent ethnic cleansing of Norwegians , said his lawyer , Geir Lippestad . In his manifesto , Breivik railed against Muslim immigration and European liberalism , including the Labour Party , which he said was allowing the `` Islamification of Europe . '' And in court , he called the trial political and objected to the judge 's friendship with a former justice minister .

`` I do not recognize the Norwegian court . You 've gotten your mandate from political parties that support multiculturalism , '' he said .

`` OK , we will make a note of that general objection , '' Judge Wenche Elizabeth Arntzen said curtly .

Prosecutors played a recording of a terrified girl phoning for help during the shooting rampage , a recording punctuated by constant firing in the background . They also showed security camera video of the central Oslo bomb blast that killed eight people , images that participants in the trial watched with ashen faces .

Breivik sat in court without restraints , behind a bulletproof glass barrier set up to protect him during the six hours of proceedings . Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg vowed to double down on Norway 's traditions of liberal democracy in response to the attacks , and Breivik 's trial appears to be no exception .

`` He was so close to having a bullet between his eyes . The police were so close , '' said Jorn Overby , who rescued some 15 people from the waters off Utoya during the massacre . But Overby told CNN that he owes Breivik only `` a punch in the face for firing at me . ''

`` He will get the treatment he needs , '' Overby said .

Experts have given different opinions about Breivik 's sanity , which will be a factor in determining what punishment he receives if convicted . Norway does not have the death penalty , and sentencing options could include imprisonment or confining him to a mental facility .

But Breivik 's defense will try to prove he was sane at the time of the killings , Lippestad said Monday . Lippestad told reporters after the hearing that the defendant had his reasons , but would not disclose them .

It is important to Breivik that he be considered sane , Lippestad said after the hearing .

Prosecutors outlined Breivik 's life before the killings , showing a photo of the messy room where he lived at his mother 's house , listing his six failed businesses and referring to his many hours playing the online game `` World of Warcraft . '' Prosecutors said he had `` no job , no salary , no money from the government '' and was `` living off his savings . ''

The defendant smiled briefly when his `` Warcraft '' character was shown , one of the few times he showed emotion on Monday .

He also appeared to be overcome with emotion , fighting back tears , when part of his video manifesto `` Knights Templar 2083 '' was played in court . Lippestad declined to say why Breivik wept , citing attorney-client privilege . But lawyers for the victims said : `` No one thought he was crying for the victims . ''

A survivor of Utoya Island , Tore Sinding Bekkedal , said he was surprised to experience `` a strange feeling of relief '' when prosecutors switched from listing the names of the dead to those of the wounded .

`` It was an intense gratitude , Bekkedal said during a break in the proceedings . `` It took me by surprise that I felt it , that these wonderful people are still among us , that we managed to save these ones at least . ''

Breivik is to begin testifying Tuesday , and asked Monday for his testimony to be broadcast , claiming it as a human right . Most of the relatives of the victims do not want that to happen , according to lawyers who represent the families of victims and survivors .

`` It 's going to be 10 weeks of hell ... to hear this man , to hear his explanation of why he did it and how he did it , '' said Trond Henry Blattmann , whose son was killed on Utoya Island .

In November , prosecutors said psychiatrists had determined that Breivik was paranoid and schizophrenic at the time of the attacks and during 13 interviews experts conducted with him afterward . However , the court sought a second opinion because of the importance of the question of sanity to Breivik 's trial .

In a report released this month , two court-appointed psychiatric experts said Breivik was sane at the time of the killings .

The victims on Utoya Island were among 700 mostly young people attending a Labour Party camp , the same camp Stoltenberg said he had attended every summer since 1974 .

`` I think that one of the main messages from Norway after the tragedy ... was that we were going to protect our democracy . And part of our democracy is the divisions of responsibilities between the government and the courts . It 's up to the courts to decide whether this man is going to be sentenced or not , whether he is insane or not . It 's not a question which is going to be decided by politicians . That 's part of our democratic society , '' Stoltenberg said .

Tore Bjorgo , a terror expert and professor at Norwegian Police University College , said Breivik appears to be overly concerned about his self-image and sees himself in the role of a `` fantastic , great person who will save Europe . ''

`` It 's we who should decide what kind of a society we want ; it 's not the terrorists , '' he said . `` And the logic of terrorism is to try to provoke responses to get people to act in ways the terrorists want , and it was important that we did n't do that . We did n't go down that road , and that was , I think , a big victory . ''

CNN 's Per Nyberg and Marilia Brocchetto contributed to this report .

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NEW : Survivor says he owes Breivik `` a punch in the face ''

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Breivik 's lawyer says it is important to his client that he be seen as sane

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Prosecutors play a recording of a call for help during the shooting spree

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Breivik is accused of killing 77 people in a bomb and gun rampage